Post-2007 draft tidbits By Gil Brandt NFL.com Senior Analyst http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/10165968 (May 4, 2007) -- The 2007 NFL Draft has ended, but the analysis didn't stop when pick No. 255 was announced. Here are some facts about this year's draft and how it compares to drafts of the past. There were 255 players selected from 112 schools. There were 126 defensive players selected (59 to AFC teams, 67 to the NFC), 123 offensive players selected (61 AFC, 62 NFC) and six kickers picked (three punters and three placekickers). There were 50 defensive backs selected, followed by 41 offensive linemen, 40 defensive linemen, 35 linebackers, 34 wide receivers, 24 running backs, 13 tight ends and 11 quarterbacks. Four players from LSU were selected in the first round, the ninth time since 1967 a school has produced four first-rounders in a single draft. The others were Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida State, Miami (twice), Penn State and Auburn. USC (1968) and Ohio State (2006) each have had five players picked in a first round. Miami holds the record for most picks in the first round with six in 2004. JaMarcus Russell (LSU) became the sixth quarterback from the SEC to be drafted first overall. Steve DeOssie (drafted by the Cowboys in 1984) and Keith Jackson (drafted by the Eagles in 1988) can both brag about being picked higher than their sons. Zak DeOssie was drafted this year in the fourth round by the Giants and Keith Jackson Jr. went to St. Louis in Round 7. 2007 NFL Draft Tyler Thigpen became the first player from Coastal Carolina to be drafted (Minnesota, seventh round). If Kevin Boss, drafted in the fifth round by the New York Giants, plays in a regular-season game, he will become the first from Western Oregon to do so. Gaines Adams became the highest player picked from Clemson since 1940, when Banks McFadden was also picked fourth overall by the Brooklyn Dodgers. Joe Thomas became the highest picked lineman ever from Wisconsin, the previous high was fourth by Paul Gruber in 1988. Both played left tackle. Fourteen underclassmen were selected in the first round, second most ever. Fifteen underclass players were selected in 2004. Amobi Okoye (Louisville) became the youngest first-round pick since 1967. He was 19 years and 322 days old. The previous youngest was linebacker Jamir Miller (20 years, 156 days) in 1994 by Arizona. Calvin Johnson (second overall) became the highest pick from Georgia Tech. The previous high was Eddie Prokop in 1945 (fourth overall). Adrian Peterson was the first running back drafted in the first round from Oklahoma since Steve Sewell in 1985. Seventeen defensive players were drafted in the first round, second most since 1990. There were 18 selected in 2003. Seven defensive backs were selected in the first round, which ties for the most ever. There were also seven selected in 2006 and 1998. Four safeties were selected in Round 1, most ever. The previous high was three. Five schools had seven or more players picked in the draft. Florida led the way with nine, followed by Ohio State with eight and Michigan, Notre Dame and Texas each had seven. Texas coach Mack Brown has had a player selected in 22 consecutive drafts. Ohio State, with two first-round picks, passed Southern California for the most first-round picks of all time with 66. Southern Cal is second with 65, while Miami (Fla.) and Notre Dame are tied with 61. Joe Staley (Central Michigan) became the first football player from the school selected in Round 1. In basketball, Chris Kaman was drafted sixth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the L.A. Clippers. Players drafted by conferences: SEC: 41 in 2007; 661 since 1990 Big Ten: 32 in 2007; 582 since 1990 ACC: 31 in 2007; 457 since 1990 Big 12: 28 in 2007; 324 since 1997 Pac-10: 28 in 2007; 571 since 1990 WAC: 17 in 2007 Big East: 16 in 2007 Independents: 9 in 2007 Mountain West: 9 in 2007 MAC: 8 in 2007 Conference USA: 8 in 2007 Sun Belt: 5 in 2007 Atlantic 10: 4 in 2007 The Pac-10 was the only major conference to have a player selected from every school.
